Cole looked back to Chiron. “My name isn’t Bob. It’s Cole.”
Chiron’s mouth stretched into a half smile. “Is it really? That’s a shame, I rather liked Bob.”
Cole couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “When will Habbad be here?”
“Your Underkin Friend? Not soon I’m afraid. I could tell you the exact amount of time but I don’t think you would comprehend it. While I did not inspect your mind without your permission, I could not help but pick up the faintest scent of meddling. Your vocabulary has been tampered with, has it not?”
“A man, big like you, said that he put a cypher in my mind so I could speak your language,” Cole said.
“That explains why a human is so fluent in the Aenerian language. Do you remember this man’s name?” Chiron asked, tapping his fingers together.
“Kreed.” As he said the name, Cole imagined he saw a spark of alarm in Chiron’s eyes, but it faded behind his calm demeanor and pleasant smile. “Do you know him?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I was Kreed’s mentor some time ago, but I haven’t seen him in many cycles. I would be most saddened if half the rumors about him are true.” Chiron leaned back and placed his hands flat on his knees. “Cole, with your permission, I would like to inspect your mind to ensure that Kreed has not done you any harm.”
“I…would rather you didn’t,” Cole said, unsure if his opinion carried any weight. He would have Habbad check him when he got here.
“Very well then.” Chiron looked Cole up and down as he drummed his fingers on the armrest. “Our sentries tell me that you are the reason the barrier came down. There are many different factions here on the Dark Side, and this event affects them all. Each one has its own plans as to what should be done with you. While I am by no means in charge of any group, I am listened to by all. Before any hasty choices are made, I would hear your side of the tale.”
“All right, where do you want me to start? With the barrier?” Cole asked, feeling as if he had been caught in some wrongdoing.
Chiron looked down at him from his beak-nose. “How about from the beginning.”
Cole’s eyes fell to the floor. “You might not believe me. I’m not sure I believe it all yet myself.”
If Chiron was surprised, his face didn’t show it. “You just destroyed Aeneria’s most important magical object, an object that eludes the understanding of our most esteemed Wisdom Walkers, including me. You tore it apart as if it were nothing more than tissue paper when it should have killed you and your friends. Before this event I may not have believed you. Now however, I think you will find that I am sincerely open-minded.”
Taking a deep breath, Cole told Chiron everything he remembered since his arrival. He still wasn’t sure if Chiron could be trusted, but he didn’t see the harm in being honest, especially if he could recruit an Aenerian to help save Lexy. His throat was sore by the time he described his encounter with the barrier, but he took special care to emphasize how it was not his fault. Cole expected an interrogation from the grey-maned Aenerian, but Chiron merely drummed his fingers and listened with utmost interest. Cole finished the tale feeling raw yet cathartic. The fate of his friends weighed heavily on him.
Chiron’s face finally donned a look of genuine concern. “You have had a rough go of it to say the least. It pains me that your visit has been marred by such tragedy. It is a shame really, Aeneria is a beautiful place. Your Earth has its charms as well, but Aeneria represents the best of all the local planets. We used to bring you humans here for visits.”
Cole’s mouth popped open. “You’ve been to Earth?”
Chiron chuckled. “Yes, in my youth, when I was full to the brim with righteousness and cleverness, but back to the matter at hand. You, my brave man, have just arbitrarily destroyed Aeneria’s barrier and brought war to our doorstep. You have become something of a big deal among our factions. Some see you as a threat, others as a weapon. I know what everyone else wants to do with you, but no one knows what you want to do with you. What paths tempt you now?”
“I haven’t thought about it to be honest. I’ve just been scraping by since I got here, and trying not to get eaten. What I really want is to go back to Earth, but that doesn’t seem to be an option anymore. Is it?” Cole added, but he already knew the answer.
“I am afraid you have more experience in this matter than I. You are the only one to have Traveled since the barrier was erected. Perhaps since it was destroyed that means Travel through the aethers is possible again, though I doubt it. In any case, you would have to wait until we were back in Terra’s house before you could hope to attempt it.”
Cole’s eyebrows rose. “I think I Traveled to Earth while I was on the river. I saw my friends and family, but they couldn’t see me. Habbad said I Traveled too, that I turned into a ball of light.”
“In the spirit of open-mindedness I will have to take you at your word. Travel to a planet out of order is impossible as far as I know. You are quite the anomaly. You may very well vanish and return to Earth any moment now, but in the interim, where would you like to go from here?” Chiron asked, drumming his fingers on his knee.
“I don’t have a home or a place to stay, and I can’t go anywhere near Costas. I guess I’d like to see if Habbad really is okay. Then I’d want to find Goran. Then, and I don’t know if it’s even possible, I’d like to save Lexy. Other than that I don’t have any idea what I’m going to do here.”
Chiron tilted his head in curiosity. “What is it that you would be saving Lexy from? Did you not just say that the Corpulant took her?”
“It did, but Habbad said Kreed put some kind of spell on her so that she won’t die. Though if we don’t save her before the end of the cycle, she’ll be worse than dead because she’s going to the tower of Devotion. It’s this thing were-”
“There is no need to explain that abomination to me, I am familiar with the tower,” Chiron said, halting Cole with his palm. “The Light Side has grown dark indeed. Please, continue.”
“That’s it really. I want to save Lexy before she goes to the Tower,” Cole said, biting his lip.
Chiron inspected Cole with such a significant gaze that Cole worried the Aenerian was using magic on him. Chiron finally blinked, relaxing his winged brows. “And how do you plan to accomplish all of this?”
“I don’t know. Habbad can do some magic. I guess we’d think of something.” The words sounded childish even to his own ears. “Do you know anyone that would help us?”
Chiron nodded, “There are those that would jump at the opportunity to help you, though their aid would come with a price which they would not reveal until they found out how best to use you. We are not the demons that the propaganda of the Light Side has portrayed us as. However, the Dark Side can be a very dangerous place for one in your position. As soon as you leave this room, webs shall weave themselves around you. They already have as a matter of fact. Right now you are adrift in an ocean of politics and everyone is out fishing for you.”
The thought of being someone’s puppet set a small, riotous fire in Cole. “Is there any way for me to avoid it all? I don’t like the idea of being used.”
Chiron shook his head. “I am afraid not, though I do have some suggestions if you would hear them.”
Cole considered simply taking a weapon off the table and making a run for it. He inched closer to the table. “In the spirit of open-mindedness, I’ll hear your suggestions.”
“Excellent. Given everything that you just admitted to me, I would suggest that you join up with our local military. Those who demand recompense for the barrier would see this as an act of restitution. It would also take you out of reach of the other groups that would use you for their own gain. There are many roles in the military, and not all of them involve direct combat. Your assignments would never be beyond your honest abilities, unless you seek those yourself. The training and resources you would be exposed to would certainly make you more prepared to rescue Lexy. Would this be agreeable?
” Chiron asked, giving Cole a moment to take it all in.
“I feel like I don’t have a choice.” Cole hugged his arms around his middle, squeezing tightly.
“Of course you do. This is merely a recommendation. Though I suppose you could take to hiding yourself in the woods and just simply wait for this all to pass. No one would stop you.” Chiron waved his hand over the weapons on the table.
Cole mulled it over, rocking back and forth. Chiron made it seem like he could come and go as he pleased, and Cole believed him. If this military job wasn’t to his liking he would just leave and find something else. “I’ll join. At least until Habbad gets here.” Nerves bubbled up in Cole’s chest. “What will be expected of me?”
Chiron shifted in his seat. “That is for your mentors to decide, though I imagine for now you will be expected to rest and recover. You have been through quite a bit. From what I hear you were clinging on to life by a thread when you washed up on our shores. If not for the magical talents of one of our students, you would likely not be here eyeing that sharp dagger on the table.”
Cole brought his gaze back to Chiron. “I wondered how I managed to survive that fall. I’ll have to thank him if we ever meet.”
Chiron smirked. “You will have a chance to thank her soon enough. She is a member of the military as well. She may not be too receptive of your gratitude however.”
“Why not? Did she get into trouble for saving me?” Cole asked, confused.
“She will be just fine, and so will you. Now I think it is time we get you up and started down your new path. I am sure that the owner of this room would appreciate it.”
Cole hopped down from the bed, sharp pain shooting up his legs when he landed. His body felt as if it had been run through a meat grinder.
“If you would follow me.” Chiron rose to his full height, which was taller than even Kreed. He turned and walked out of the room, surprisingly light on his feet. His cloudy grey hair swished, but it was his cloak that drew Cole’s attention as it trailed over the ground behind him. It seemed to be made entirely of wood, giving the appearance that the floor continued right up to his lofty shoulders. After Chiron vanished through the door, Cole stood on his toes and snatched a white-bladed dagger from the table. In his hand the knife was more of a small sword. He tucked the blade into the wrappings at his side, taking care not to cut them.
Cole emerged from the room and wondered if he had just walked into a postcard for some tropical vacation spot. His feet sank into cool sand that stretched along the coastline of a lagoon. Lights from other buildings sparkled from across the water. Odd colors glinted off the mirrored surface, drawing Cole’s eyes up to the sky, where he saw a moon so large he could count individual craters. The moon was bigger than his outstretched hand, its surface glowing with multichromatic hues, as if someone had painted it with a brush made from rainbows.
“That is Oberon, our moon,” Chiron explained.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Cole’s eyes stretched wide with wonder. “Why couldn’t I see it from Costas?”
“You have drifted a long way from Costas,” Chiron said, turning away from him.
Chiron set off down the beach and Cole followed, barely able to keep up with the giant’s stride. At the water’s edge, waves lapped up the gentle slope towards the tree line, which in turn reached out towards the water, as if the branches longed to bathe in it. Cole looked into the darkened huts as they passed. They all appeared vacant, save for the blue lamp over each of the doorframes.
“Does anyone live in those huts?” he asked, trotting along.
Seeing Cole struggling to keep up, Chiron slowed. “Not quite. The occupants are busy patrolling our borders at the moment.”
More questions blossomed in Cole’s mind as he slogged through the loose sand, but he couldn’t quite hold onto one long enough to put words to it. He instead took to watching Chiron’s cape, which now looked like he was wearing the sandy beach on his back. Cole held out his hand, catching the tiny grains of sand and shells that rained from the cape.
Chapter 12
Among Giants
A hollow scraping cut through the ocean air as the boat slowed to a halt on the shore of an island. The tall trees and thick vegetation blocked most of the starlight, casting the forest in thick blackness. Cole hopped out of the boat and winced as his feet landed on sharp rocks. This shore that was much less forgiving than the soft sands he and Chiron had just left. Chiron stood inside the boat, the side of his face illuminated by a blue lantern hanging from a vine-covered arch of the vessel. Cole was about to ask him where they were, but paused when he felt a presence coming towards them from the tree line. The presence made itself obvious by the wall of silence it cast. Cole squinted into the darkness, unable to make out a figure.
“Greetings, Rothael.” Chiron called into the shadows.
A voice like a mountain’s echoing thunder responded, “Greetings, Wisdom Walker.”
Cole jumped slightly when the voice came from several feet above where he was expecting. A man emerged from the shadows, leaning trees aside to fit through. He was easily more than twice Cole’s height, and built like some freakishly muscular hero from a comic book. Metal plating covered his midsection, but his arms, legs, and parts of his face were shrouded in a material that was several deeper shades of black than the darkest shadows behind him. His wild hair fell back over his shoulders and seemed to be made of the same material, giving it the appearance of a bundle of thin knives that clinked as he walked. The ground shook as the giant approached. In the blue light of the lantern, Cole decided that the strangest thing about the man was his clawed hands and feet, which were freakishly huge and would have looked more at home on a dragon.
“He accepted,” Chiron said, shifting his gaze from the moon to Roth.
“Obviously. What was he again? Underkin?” Roth bent down until his nose was an inch from Cole’s face, and sniffed deeply. “Smells like one too.”
“His name is Cole, and he’s a human from Terra,” Chiron responded.
Roth stood and gave Chiron a sour look. “Human? If you were anyone else I’d toss you in a tree for lying, but you’re you, aren’t you.” He brought his gaze down to Cole, who almost collapsed under the weight of it. “I don’t care how you got here, or where you suckled at your mother’s tit. I hear you might be dangerous. I can use dangerous. We’re going to find out if you’re worth more than your weight in shit, even if I have to rip you open to get a peek at it. Now, take that knife tucked behind your back and try to kill me.”
Cole looked to Chiron, who was watching with mild interest.
“Why the fuck are you looking at him?” Roth shouted so loudly that Cole’s ears stung. “That’s a free one, your only free one. Next time you hesitate when I give you a command I’ll break one of your arms. Now, try to kill me.”
There was no doubt in Cole’s mind that Roth was a man of his word. His legs barely had the strength to hold him upright as he reached one shaking hand behind him. The knife slipped in his sweaty grip and he dropped it on the rocks. He bent down to retrieve it, fear chipping away at his heart. Driven by a mixture of instinct and terror, he closed his eyes and slashed blindly up at the giant. His arm wrenched as the blade struck something very solid. With one hand covering his face, he opened his eyes slowly, expecting retaliation.
“That would be armor. Keep your damn eyes open and hit something soft,” Roth growled.
Apparently the deep black material covering Roth’s legs, arms, hands, and feet were some kind of armor. Cole jabbed the dagger again, aiming for a section of Roth’s upper thigh that wasn’t shrouded in the dark skin. This time the dagger met a single clawed finger the size of Cole’s leg.
“Faster! Like you mean it!” he barked.
Cole swung again and again. He gradually gained speed and confidence as he realized this was more of a sparring session. This wasn’t a fight. It was a test. Roth moved with elegance unfitting of his appearance, using only the
one finger to block and parry Cole’s attacks. They went at it for what felt like an hour, though Cole knew it could have only been a few minutes. His right hand cramped, barely able to hold the blade, but it gave him an idea. Cole dropped the knife in mid-air, catching it in his left, and jabbed at an opening that happened to present itself in the same breath. The knife sank up to the hilt in Roth’s upper thigh. Cole froze.
“DO I LOOK DEAD TO YOU?” Roth’s voice pummeled the air between them.
Cole barely registered that he’d been struck as he flew backwards through the air. The next thing he knew, water crashed into his back as he sank like a rock. He flopped back up to the surface, unable to breathe even after his head emerged from the water. Panicking, he scrambled back to the shore, trying with all his might to get air back into his lungs. He clawed at the rocks looking for anything that might help, but his lungs were closed. When his vision started to blur, he felt clawed hands grasp his chest, hoisting him up into the air. He was face to face with Roth again. Roth considered him, then pursed his lips and blasted hot air into Cole’s gaping mouth, forcing his lungs back open. Cole’s chest stretched painfully, but his vision cleared at once. Seeing that Cole was now breathing on his own, Roth dropped him to the sharp rocks.
“I told you to kill me. That means you don’t stop till I’m dead.” Roth turned towards the boat, addressing Chiron. “He’s fragile, but trainable. I don’t know about dangerous, not unless he can make something of Wisdom.”
“And let’s not forget Passion. Every school of magic is important here, Rothael. You of all people should remember.” Chiron touched the lantern, filling it with blinding blue light.
“Bah! Passion! I don’t see how Passion will deal with what’s swarming at our borders,” Roth paused, pensive, “But I do remember when Rage and Wisdom were not enough. You’re right of course, but then again, you’re you aren’t you?”
Saving The Dark Side: Book 1: The Devotion Page 18